Adukrom (ER), Dec 06, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama, has expressed concern about the sharp decline of educational standards in the Akuapem area and called on the traditional authorities to take steps to address the situation.

Mr Mahama stressed that parents and the communities involvement was a critical factor in raising educational standards and that must be spearheaded by the local authorities.

He said the persistent score of zero percent of pupils in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), may not be that the children were not good but could be attributed to other factors, such as lack of parental care, school environment and teaching and learning materials. The Vice President mentioned that apart from the teacher factor, which was left for government, all the others could be addressed, when chiefs take interest in schools and collaborate with the heads to ensure that things were done in the correct way.

Mr Mahama, who was speaking at the annual Odwira festival of the people of Adukrom said the decline of educational standards coupled with the recent media reports of pornographic acts of some people in Akuapem must engage the attention of the leaders in the area.

He said government recognized the role of teachers in the improvement of education and had therefore put in measures to address the service conditions of teachers, despite the fact that teachers formed the largest sector of government employees.

Mr Mahama said morals were fast eroding in the Ghanaian society and called for concerted efforts from all to find solutions to the problem. He mentioned the internet fraud, popularly known as "Sakawa" that had led to Ghana being blacklisted by those operating the Internet commerce, as one of the negative activities that chiefs should address.

Mr Mahama told the people that "looking at the proverbial Akuapem discipline he was sad when media reports broke out of the pornographic acts in Akuapem" and advised the youth that "there was no short cut to life but only through hard work and honesty, which guarantees one's future". Osuodumgya Otutu Kono III, Chief of Adukrom, said in tackling the sharp decline of education, especially at the BECE levels, government must critically look at the Computer School Selection Programme (CSSPS), which was undermining community Senior High Schools system. He said the abolition of the 20 percent protocol for traditional authorities where average students were helped to get admission to schools was also a factor contributing to the decline at the BECE since parents and students got discouraged of the fact that they could not get access to a community school closer to them.

The chief assured the Vice President that Okere would take up the challenge and collaborate with heads of schools to ensure that schools use their classes hours judiciously. Distinguished citizens of Adukrom were honoured, including a student of Aburi Girls Presbyterian Secondary School, who scored eight-ones at the just ended BECE.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and his deputy Mr Baba Jamal Mohamed and the Member of Parliament for Okere, Mr Dan Botwe, were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion. 06 Dec. 09